Dispenser for dispensing scalloped edge tray covers



G. W. WYANT Feb. 1, 1966 DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING SCALLOPED EDGE TRAY COVERS Filed Nov. 29, 1963 luvsnron GM. Wynwr ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,232,505 DISFENSER FOR DISPENSING SCALLOPED EDGE TRAY COVERS Gerald W. Wyant, 4343 Mayfair Ave., Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,669 Claims priority, application Canada, Oct. 23, 1963, 887,408 1 Claim. (Cl. 22518) This invention relates to dispensers for tray covers and particularly for dispensing tray covers from a roll of paper or like material in which the longitudinal edges of the rolled material has scalloped edges and provision is made in the dispenser to scallop the material transversely as lengths of the material is withdrawn from the dispenser and torn off from the roll.

The invention consists essentially in the provision of a dispenser cabinet accommodating a roll of paper or like material whose longitudinal edges have previously been scalloped and providing a dispensing throat having a scalloped cutting edge matching the configuration of the scalloped longitudinal edges of the rolled material. The invention is further characterized in that the dispensing cabinet is mounted on top of a bracket whose height is a gauge by means of which a more or less uniform length of the rolled material is withdrawn through the throat of the cabinet before being torn off along the scalloped edge of the throat.

The object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for tray covers having scalloped edges on all four sides.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for dispensing scalloped edge tray covers of more or less uniform length.

A further object of the invention is to lower the cost of scalloped edge tray cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roll of paper or like material for loading in a dispensing cabinet, the roll of material having its longitudinal edges scalloped, and providing a scalloped cutting edge to the dispensing throat of the cabinet whereby lengths of material cut off from the roll will have scalloped transverse edges matching the scalloped longitudinal edges of the rolled material.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front elevation of the dispensing cabinet with a length of tray covering material withdrawn through the dispensing throat of the cabinet.

FIG. 2 is a vertical side sectional view of the dispensing cabinet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation of the cutting edge of the cabinet dispensing throat.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse section of a modified form of cutting edge for the dispenser throat of the cabinet.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roll having scalloped longitudinal edges and a transverse scalloped edge after a first cut-ofi' of a tray cover.

Referring to the drawings the dispensing cabinet 5 may be of any desired shape and size to take a roll 6 of paper or other like material suitable for use as tray covers. The cabinet 5 is here shown as having a roll holder portion 7 and a front cover 8 hinged at 9 to the portion 7. The bottom wall 10 of the portion 7 has a forward extension 11 over which the end of the paper from the roll 6 is guided into the throat 12 formed by the downwardly extending portion 13 and the front wall 14 of the cover 8.

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The lower horizontal edge of the front cover forms a scalloped cutting edge 15 across the whole width of the cabinet. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the scalloped cutting edge 15 is formed on a hardened and ground cutting blade 16 secured to the inner surface of the front wall 14 of the cabinet cover.

In FIG. 5 the cutting blade 17 is shown as being pivoted at 18 in the manner shown in my US. Patent No. 3,104,- 043. This form of blade mounting permits the blade to act as a brake on the sheet 19 being drawn down through the throat 12 of the cabinet While the sheet is being cut across the blade.

In order to provide an approximate gauge for the length of the sheet 19 to be drawn through the throat 12 of the cabinet before being cut oil against the cutting edge 15, the cabinet 5 is mounted on top of a pedestal 29 whose height is approximately that of the length of the tray cover to be cut oil? from the roll 6. The top front edge 21 of the pedestal 20 is set back from the front of the cabinet 5 in order to allow complete freedom for the twist given to the sheet during the operation of cutting off against the cutting edge 15 and to enable the sheet to be carried clear of the side walls 22 of the pedestal at the end of the cutting operation.

In the operation of this device, the roll 6 of paper or such like material has had its longitudinal edges out with a scalloped design at 23 at the time of being rolled, and has a width representing the width of the tray covers to be dispensed. The roll 6 is mounted in the cabinet 5 in the manner shown in FIG. 2 and has its loose end threaded through the dispensing throat 12. Initially, the loose end of the roll will have a straight edge. A first section of the sheet extending from the throat 12 is cut off against the scalloped cutting edge 15. The transverse edge of the sheet still attached to the roll is thereby given a scalloped edge 24 as seen in FIG. 6. A length of the sheet is drawn out of the dispensing throat 12 by gripping the sheet through the slots 25 in well known manner. The sheet 19 is then drawn down until the edge 24 is approximately in a level with the bottom surface 26 of the pedestal 26. The extended sheet 19 is then torn off along the scalloped cutting edge 15 in the same manner as a paper towel would be cut. The resulting sheet is therefore scalloped along all four edges.

Instead of using the height of the pedestal 20 as a gauge for the length of the tray cover the side walls 22 of the pedestal may have a series of gauge marks 27 in order that tray covers may be cut to various lengths as required.

Tray cover dispensers of the type described are of particular usefulness in hospitals and the like where a large number of meals are served on trays and where expense is a matter of concern.

The pre-scall-oping of the longitudinal edges of the rolls is done at the time of slitting and rolling at the mill and this operation adds very little to the initial cost of the rolls, while the scalloping of the transverse edges of the sheets at the time of dispensing adds nothing to the cost, at the same time eliminating the cost of scalloping the edges of cut sheets and pack-aging as was previously the case.

What I claim is:

A dispenser for scalloped edge tray covers comprising in combination a dispensing cabinet, a dispensing throat in said cabinet, a cutting blade pivotally mounted in the said dispensing throat and forming a front wall thereof, the lower horizontal edge of said pivoted blade having a scalloped cutting edge, a roll of sheet paper or like material within the said cabinet having one end thereof threaded through the said dispensing slot, the said rolled sheet material having its longitudinal edges scalloped through- :out its entire length, an open fronted pedestal supporting the said cabinet on the top thereof, the front edge of the said pedestal adjacent the said dispensing throat having an inclined surface and being set back therefrom to provide clearance for the dispensed sheet depending from the lower end of the dispensing throat, the lower front edge of the said pedestal being disposed approximately in the .plane of the said dispensing slot and the height of the pedestal approximating the maximum length of the tray cover-to :be out from the roll of sheet material, and said pedestal having gauge marks thereon throughout its entire height against which lengths of said sheet dispensed throughout the dispensing throat are measured.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Dayki n 225-53 X Hudson et al. 312-38 Peterson 312-38 Wishart 206-52 Lewandowski 225-53 X Page.

Crain 206-59 X Wyant 225-51 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiner. 

